Getting Rid of Tiny Gray Moths

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Over the past few months, I've noticed tiny gray moths fluttering through my house.I believe they're coming from the laundry room in my basement, where I have clothes hanging. Do you have any advice on how I can get rid of them?-- Mary Ellen Kalamas, Southgate, MI

First step: Try to pinpoint where the moths are coming from. If it is the laundry room, you may see holes in the clothes hanging there. But moths also live on grains, and they could be in packages of dried food, dog food or bird or grass seed in other parts of your house. How to deal with them? For clothes moths, launder or dry-clean the garments -- heat will destroy the critters. Then check all the corners, moldings and any other dark places in your basement where the moths could breed. Beige-colored, ground-pepper-size debris on the floor might be cocoon casings, indicating a nearby infestation. Vacuum the area well, being sure to empty the vacuum bag or cup, seal it up and place it in an outside trash can (so the little pests won't make their way back into the house!). If you find moths in a package, throw it out and vacuum the area. To make sure you've gotten all the "wildlife," spray infested areas with an insecticide (not a bug bomb) and clean well with a household disinfectant.